Superheater for steam boilers



June 19, 1928. I 1,674,552

h J. JENKINS SUPERHEATER FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed Sept. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 45 INVENTOR.

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A; ATTORNEY.

June 19, 1928. 1,674,552

J. JENKINS SUPERHEATER FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed Sept. 50, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 INVENTOR.

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Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN JENKINS, OF WORMLEYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPERHEATER FOR STEAM BOILERS.

Application filed September 30, 1925. Serial No. 59,624.

This invention relates to an improvement in superheaters for steam boilers.

In the usual system of superheating steam, the steam is conveyed from the dome of the 6 boiler through a large pipe directly into the superheating chamber. When the locomotive is running, there is a strong suction brought about by the action of the pistons in the cylinders, acting as suction pumps, and 10 and steam in transit through the large pipe travels at a tremendous speed, carrying with it particles of water which have been splashed, sprayed or thrown up from the water in the boiler. These particles of water, drawn into the superheater, have a negative effect reducing the efiiciency of the heater, the same as any other ob'ect would be cooled by being sprayed with water. Theoretically and practically, the superheater should be much hotter than a regular boiler, and anything that cools it defeats its purposes and lessens its efficiency. When water is present, the heat units are consumed to generate it into steam that should be used to superheat steam already generated. Thus, in the superheating systems in general use much heat is wasted in this way, and the real power of the engine is reduced by imperfectly superheated steam.

Furthermore, superheaters are ordinarily constructed in such a way that hundreds of feet of pipes are exposed to the most intense heat it is ossible to get out of a big locomotive fire ox. The disastrous effect of putting water into an overheated boiler is well known and water which is drawn into a superheater is a constant menace, likely to cause an explosion at any time. The intermittent action of a locomotive in stopping and starting increases the hazard.

The object of in invention is, therefore, to prevent the a ixture of particles of water splashed, sprayed or sucked into the steam in transit from the boiler, from-being drawn into the superheating device. In other words, my invention lies primarily in keeping'water out of superheaters, and secondarily, of extracting any water that might possibly get in by condensation or any other means before it is superheated, thus increasing the efficiency of the superheater and diminishing the possibility of explosion.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the provision of a splash-plate within the boiler in order to prevent the swinging and vibrating motions of the locomotive from dashing a spray of water into the steam, as it is being drawn into the superheater. As a further insurance against the drawing of water into the superheater, I provide a steam jacket placed partly or entirely around the boiler into which the steam is drawn from-the interior of the boiler and from which it is fed to the superheater. This steam jacket allows the steam to circulate in such a manner as will cause the heaviest particles to precipitate by gravity and be discharged through a. trap at the lower end thereof. This steam jacket also provides a storage chamber for a large volume of dry steam or'steam which is not impregnated with water and which forms a source of power which is ready to be drawn upon at any time.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive steam boiler with my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the boiler showing a modified form of my invention.

The numeral 1 indicates a steam boiler, such as is commonly used in locomotives and is provided with the usual fire box 2, at one end thereof, for heating the water within the boiler.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, I have provided a steam jacket 3, which partly or entirely surrounds the boiler 1, and is closely fitted thereover for receiving steam from the boiler. A cover-plate or dome 4 is provided for closing the top of the steam jacket 3 while yet permitting access thereinto and to the interior of the steam boiler.

' As shown in Fig. 3, a dome flange 5 is secured around the opening 6 in the top of the boiler, so as to allow the steam to pass into the steam jacket 3. For the purpose of preventing particles of water from be ing drawn or splashed into the steam jacket 3, I have provided a splash-plate 7 suitably secured to the interior of the boiler 1 at a point above the water line therein, and this splash-plate 7 is provided with a trap door 8. for permitting access to the interior of the boiler. A drain 9 is formed at the bottom of the steam jacket 3, in order to allow any accumulating water within the jacket to drain therefrom, before being drawn into the superheater.

As shown in Fig. 1, a pipe 10 extends from the front end of the steam jacket 3 forwardly and terminates in forked extension pipes 11 which extend into and communicate with the superheater 12, which is suitably secured within the front end of the boiler 1. The usual heating pipe 13 is provided for the superheater 12. An auxiliary pipe 14 is provided at the rear side of the steam jacket 3 to communicate with a supplemental superheater in the fire box, if desired, and both of these pipes are provided with suitable cut-off valves 15. Extending downwardly from the superheater 12 from each side thereof is a pipe 16 which supplies the superheated steam from the superheater 12 to' each of the steam chests 17. Each of these pipes 16 is provided with a throttle 18 which is operated by the throttle-rod 19, the latter being connected to the throttle arm 20, pivoted to the bar 21, which extends across beneath the steam boiler and upon which both of the throttle arms 20 are pivoted. A throttle-bar 21' is pivotally secured to one of the throttle-arms 20 for operating both of the throttles through the medium of the pivotal-bar 21.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 differs from the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 merely in the substitution of a single throttle 22 in the pipe 10 in the position formerly occupied bythe valve 15. This throttle 22 is provided with the usual piston rod 23, which is operated by the pivotal arm 24, provided with a vertical extension 25 which is pivotally connected with the usual throttle-bar 26. I

In operation the steam from the boiler 1 passesup and around the ends of the splashplate 7 through andaround the dome flange 5 into the steam jacket 3, where any water that may be carried by the'steam will be discharged through ,the drain 9. The steam is then drawn through the pipes 10 and 11 into the superheater 12, where it is superheated after which it passes through the pipes 16 into the steam chests 17. The throttles 18 control the amount of steam which is allowed to pass into the steam chests.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved superheater for steam boilers, in which the steam that has passed into the supeiheater is entirely free from moisture and is thus in a dry condition. The steam jacket, which serves to remove the water from the steam also serves as a storage chamber for the dry steam from which it may be drawn and used as desired.

Although this invention is shown as applied to a locomotive steam boiler, yet it is obvious that it would functon just as perfectly with any form of steam boiler.

I claim:

1. The combination of a steam boiler, having an opening in the top thereof, a dome flange extending upwardly about said opening, a steam jacket surrounding the boiler and dome flange exteriorly thereof, and communicating with the boiler through the flange and top opening for receiving steam therefrom, and a superheater in communication with the steam jacket.

2. The combination of a steam boiler having anopening in the top thereof, a dome flange extending upwardly about said open ing, a steam jacket surrounding the boiler and dome flange exteriorly thereof, and communicating with the boiler through the flange and top opening, for receiving steam therefrom, a steam pipe extending outwardly from the side of said steam jacket beneath the boiler, a superheater mounted in the boiler, and branch pipes extending laterally from said first-mentioned steam pipe around the boiler and to the superheater.

3. The combination of a steam boiler, a steam jacket mounted exteriorly thereof, said boiler havin an opening in the top thereof, a dome flange extending upwardly about said opening in the steam jacket, and a splash plate beneath the opening and having the sides thereof fixed to the sides of theboiler, said plate extending longitudinally of the boiler a substantial distance on opposite sides of the opening to allow ingress of steam into the steam jacket over the ends, only, thereof.

t. The combination with a steam boiler, of a steam jacket exteriorly mounted on said boiler, a dome mounted on said boiler within the steam jacket and forming a communication therebetween, and a splash plate se- \cured at its edges to the opposite sides of the boiler beneath the dome and extending a substantial distance on opposite sides thereof .for preventing water within the boiler from splashing through the dome into the steam jacket, and to allow steam to pass around the ends thereof into the jacket.

Iii testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN JENKINS. 

